Tenter machine



Jan. 12, 1937. J. H. WILLIAMS TENTER MACH INE Filed July 21, 1936 Patented Jan. i2, 193? UNITED aerate T OFIE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tenter machines and the principal objects of the invention are directed to means in a tenter machine for adjusting the side rails thereof and permitting said rails to move relative to the support therefor.

Tenter machines include side rails which support the tenter chains that carry the material in operation through the machine and, in such machines, it is necessary to provide means to facilitate the rails and the chains carried thereby being moved towards and away from one another. Tenter machines are usually operated in a heated enclosure or compartment so that the rails tend to expand and, without some suitable provision to permit the expansion or elongation, serious consequences result.

According 1 to this invention, an efficient, simple structure is provided wherein the rails may be adjusted towards and away from one another, while the rails may move relative to the support as they expand or contract.

Various other novel features and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter more fully referred to in connection with the accompanying drawing. It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the form of this invention without departing from the scope of this invention, the disclosure merely being for purposes of description in the drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. '1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a rail having supporting means associated therewith;.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevational view through the rail shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the rail shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan view to explain certain features of the invention.

A stand or support is represented at 2, there being two such supports, one at either side of the machine. These may be secured to the floor, foundation, or the like.

A crosshead 4 extends between each pair of supports 2 and is secured thereto so as to provide therewith a strong, rigid structure for supporting the rails. 7

Rails, such as 8, one on each side of the machine rest on the crosshead for movements toward and away from one another as well as longitudinally relative to the crosshead. The lower side of the rail adjacent to the crosshead may be made to have finished surfaces to facilitate accurate setting of the parts and proper relative movements of the rails and the crosshead.

In a tenter machine the side rails may be of {*various lengths according to the length of the machine. Each side rail may consist of a number of rail units suitably secured together to support the tenter chains, and there will be various numbers of the crossheads depending upon the length of the rails. In a relatively long machine, there will be several of the crossheads, each carrying brackets, such as H]. A shaft, such as [2, is rotatable in the brackets.

The rails 8 have openings, such as IS, in the walls thereof which are out of contact with shaft [2. The shaft i2 is suitably threaded and in ternally threaded nuts, such as 18', are in engagement therewith. Abutments, or projections, H in the rails provide guideways for the nuts. This makes it possible for the rails to move longitudinally or expand, yet movements of the nuts axially of shaft I2 will move te rails.

Where in a tenter machine there are a number of shafts, such as l2, they are usually connected together by means of gears and shafts or the like to facilitate simultaneous rotation thereof. For the purpose of the present disclosure, it will be assumed that the shaft is rotated by suitable tool in engagement with a squared end 20 thereof.

As the shaft I2 is rotated, the rails will be moved according to the direction of rotation of the said shaft 12. The construction so far described is simple in form and therefore, economical to produce, while the rails are readily adjustable. They are, however, free to move forward and back in expanding or contracting and are guided in these movements by the nuts.

One important feature of the invention is a foot 22, provided on the inner side of the rail 8, which rests on the crosshead, This is im portant since, with certain kinds of material being handled by the tenter machine, there is a tendency for the rail to be tilted inwardly. The foot, therefore, acts to prevent this and it is very desirable in connection with the structure described.

Ii-Twill be noted that the rail is guided for longitudinal movements as when expanding or contracting while at the same time, it is adjustable, all by the means of a structure which is simple in form and therefore, economical to produce.

I am aware that many changes and modifications may be made in the form of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. What I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

. 1. The combination in a tenter machine of a cross member, a rail slidable thereon, a rotatable screw member, a nut in threaded engagement therewith propelled by said screw, and means associated with said rail slidably embracing said nut, whereby said rail is moved in one direction by said nut and is slidable relative to said nut substantially transversely to the movement caused by said screwrmember.

2; The combination in a tenter machine of a cross member, a rail slidable thereon, a rotatable screw member, a nut in threaded engagement therewith propelled by said screw, means associated with said rail slidably embracing said nut, whereby said rail is moved in one direction by said nut and is slidable relative to said nut substantially transversely to the movement caused by said screw member, and a foot at one side of the rail on said cross member to hold the said rail against tilting in one direction. a

3. The combination in a tenter machine of a cross member, a pair of rails slidable thereon, a screw member rotatable on said crossmember, nuts in threaded engagement therewith one for each rail propelled by said screw, and means associated with the rails slidably embracing said nuts whereby said rails are moved towards and away from one another thereby and are slidable relative to said nuts substantially transversely to the movement caused by the screw member.

4. The combination in a tenter machine of a cross member, a pair of rails slidable thereon, a screw memberrotatable on said cross member, nuts in threaded engagement therewith one for each rail propelled by said screw, means associated with the rails slidably embracing said nuts whereby said rails are moved towards and away from one another thereby and are slidable relative to said nuts substantially transversely to the movement caused by the screw member, and feet at the inner sides of said rails on said cross member to hold said rails against inward tilting movements.

5. The combination in a tenter machine of a Q wards and away from one another by the guideways and nuts. g r 6. The combination in a tenter machine 0 spaced supports, a transverse crosshead, a pair of rails slidable longitudinally and transversely .thereon, a transversescrew member, rotatable on the crosshead, propelling nuts for the rails in threaded engagement with the screw member, means associated with said rails forming longitudinal guideways in which said nuts are disposed, all adapted and arranged whereby said rails are positively propelled towards and away from one another on said crosshead by said nuts when said screw member is rotated and are guided for longitudinal movements on. said 1 crosshead by said nuts and guideway s.

JOHN H. WILLIAMS. 

